First look: It's FPV's Falcon GT-P - sort of

YOU'RE looking at the top-spec Ford Performance Vehicles Falcon, the GT-P, the only member of the FPV launch range not previewed at the Sydney motor show last month.

But the catch is the GT-P you see here may not be quite the same as the GT-P which is launched next February alongside the Falcon GT and Pursuit Ute.

Confused? No need to be really. This GT-P is on the FPV web site and is meant to provide an indicative guide to the look of the car rather than be absolutely accurate.

We can tell you, however, that the fundamental styling is right and the 18x8-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels are spot-on. Any changes that do occur will be in the details.

For instance, the chrome accents at the bottom of the rear skirt is actually now going to be used on the GT, as is a similar chrome accent at the bottom of the front airdam.

These changes were made after the GT was displayed at the Sydney motor show last month.

This is all part of the final styling refinement of the FPV range that is still going on.

"The pictures on the web site are mock-up ones of early ideas of what GT-P could be and the GT at the motor show isn't necessarily completely final either," explained a Ford spokesperson.

"They're locking it in at the moment, doing final design changes and getting customer feedback out of the show vehicle and so on.

"We're talking about minor design changes like accents or wing details. The basic vehicle will be the same."Despite claims on the FPV web site that the GT-P would boast increased performance over the GT, Ford insists that won't be the case. All three cars will share the same Boss 290 quad cam 290kW/520Nm V8 engine, assembled at FPV headquarters in Campbellfield, Victoria.

Where the GT-P will have an advantage over the GT is in standard equipment, which is expected to be at or close to Fairmont Ghia level. GT will be equipped more like a Futura.

That means GT-P will have a price premium over GT, which is tipped to line up against the HSV Clubsport R8 at about $65,000-$70,000.

If that pricing turns out to be the case then GT will have a sizeable power and torque advantage over the R8's Chevrolet LS1 5.7-litre V8 that produces 260kW and 475Nm.

Only the HSV GTS sedan and coupe outdo the Boss engine with 300kW from the C4B V8, but at 500Nm it is still behind on torque.

Final pricing, equipment and mechanical specification levels for the FPV range are scheduled to be announced just prior to next year's launch.